The Gift of Gifts

Many people will spend much time trying to find the perfect gift for someone they love. Some people will buy an expensive gift in order to impress someone. Christmas is a time for giving. But the best human gift pales into insignificance compared to God’s gift to us. He gave us his best. He gave us Himself.

That baby in a manger was his gift to us. That boy in the temple was his gift to us. That man teaching on the mountain was his gift to us. That man of Galilee touching and healing the leper was his gift to us. That man on the cross between two thieves was his gift to us. That man who came out of the grave conquering death was his gift to us.

In giving Jesus to us, He gave us salvation, abundant life, eternal life. The Bible says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And Paul broke into praise when he wrote, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” And through the ages men and women of faith have been talking about this amazing gift. It is a gift so precious that many have died martyrs deaths because of it. It is a gift so life-changing that many endure imprisonment and ridicule to tell others about it.

We have just finished observing “Thanksgiving Day.” But, Christmas is certainly a time for thanksgiving. It is a time to thank God for the gift of eternal life, abundant life. We can spell that gift in one word, Jesus. No wonder that we celebrate Christmas every year. We celebrate the indescribable gift God has given to us. Over and over we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”